IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.25 


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2.5 
2.2 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7t6)  a73-4.'i03 


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<1> 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIN/IH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliog.aphiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Couverture  endommag6e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicu!6e 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Ticht  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrie  peut  causer  de  9'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsqua  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplemental "ss; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqufo  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

I — I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Th 
to 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  peliiculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiiti  in^gale  de  ('impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~^  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~7|  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


T» 

P< 
of 
fil 


Oi 
b« 
th 
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fir 
si« 
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wl 


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en 
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Pages  '.vholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  paries  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  At6  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

%X 

30X 

/ 

V 

1 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


:ail8 

du 

>difi0r 

une 

nage 


The  copy  fiimad  h«r«  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division  , 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printed  papar  covers  ara  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copias  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  th«  '"M  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'axemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
gtnArositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Les  imagas  suivrntas  ont  At*  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattetA  de  I'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmAs  en  commengant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  p 'r  la 
darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


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s  U  Ji  S  'r  A  N  C  I : 


OK 


A    I.ECTIMIE 


HKFOUK     TIIK 


MiaiCANTIll';    [.llilMlfV    ASSOCIATION 


D  E  L I  V  i:  R  i:  I)    J  A  N  I  A  R  Y    2  2,     1  b  4  o , 


I'.Y    WILLIAM    ^Tl  UCilS. 


BOS  T  O  N : 
JORDAN,    SWIFT    *JL     WfLEY. 

No.  V^l  >\'nsliinjrt<iii  Street. 
1  S  1  o  . 


*    Co  s  T'lHc  ,  Basajjx 


i'HINTEP   BY   AMIREU-?,    mrNTIsS    AND   STVDI.EV. 

iJF.vo.Nsiiiur.  iruK.r.T. 


*A-i* 


r  •'t 


L  E  C  T  U  R  E . 


(jcntleriu'ii.  of  the  Mcraintih  Lihrarfj  Association:  — 

I  iiAVi:  l;ik(Mi  the  "TciTitoryoi  i)rcgon"  tur  llio 
siihjiHt  of  this  cvfMiiiiit's  lecture.  I  propose  to  give 
voii  tlie  maieriiil  facts  in  relation  to  the  couOicting 
c'aims  to  this  territory,  .^hewing  their  origin  —  tlie 
grounds  upon  wliich  they  are  maintained  —  a  sum- 
mary of  the  principal  arguments  upon  both  sides  — 
the  negociations  for  tlien*  settlement  —  and  the 
present  <tate  of  the  (juestion.  I  shidl  take  the  hherty 
to  add  my  own  vieWv«  relative  to  its  final  adjustment, 
h  would  he  nseless  to  attempt  to  conceal  —  what  you 
will  doubtless  soon  discover  —  that  the  subject  is  a 
A  erv  dry  one,  and  will  be  treated  in  a  very  dry  manner. 
It  is  however,  at  the  present  time,  one  of  great  impor- 
tane<'  :  for  there  seems  to  be  a  determination,  among 
some  of  those  in  )»ower,  to  have  immediate  action 
u{)on  it :  and  this  action  may  go  far  to  decide  whether 
our  present  amicable  relations  with  Cireat  Britain  are 
to  be  preserved. 

Four  powerful  nations  have  put  iorth  claims  to  this 
territory,    viz:  —  ."^pain,   Russia,    (ircat  Britain   and 


4 


tlie  United  States.  The  elaiius  of  Sj);un  have  been 
translerred  to  this  coimtr).  Those  of  l^nssia  liave 
been  adjusted  h\'  rcdiiiii;  to  lier  the  e.velusive  rii>ht  ol 
settleiiient,  witliin  t('i\  leagues  of  the  sea.  north  ot"  lati- 
tude .Vl-^  10' ;  and  the  coiitro\ersy  lor  what  remains 
is  now  between  (ireat  Britain  and  ourselves. 

It  is  necessary,  at  the  outset,  to  understand  distinct- 
ly what  is  the  question  really  at  issue  between  CJreal 
l]ritain  and  the  rnit(>d  States  in  regard  to  this  tcrri- 
t-ory.  It  is  not  a  (juestion  of  /losilirc,  l)ut  of  rchaivc 
riL'lits.  Not  whether  either  party  have  cA'clusicc  terri- 
torial rights  —  for  the  steps  that  have  already  been 
taken,  by  mutual  consent,  amount  clearly  to  an  admis- 
sion by  each  that  the  other  has  some  rights  —  but  it  is 
the  extent  of  these  rights  and  the  manner  in  which  they 
sliall  be  delincd,  that  remain  to  be  adjusted  and  settled. 

Jt  mav  be  well,  too,  to  iiave  a  clear  understandino- 
of  what  is  meant  bv  the  expression  '-whole  territorv 
of  Oregon."  when  used  in  common  parlance,  iind  to 
fix  in  your  minds  the  position  of  certain  ])rominent 
points  that  will  be  often  referred  to  in  course  of  my 
remarks. 

The  territory  in  disjjute  is  the  whole  country  West 
of  the  llocky  Mountains,  lynig  between  the  latitudes 
of  42^^  and  o'l-  40  North,  and  couse(|uently  bounded 
by  tli«^  llocky  Alountaiiis  on  the  Kast,  the  racilic 
Ocean  on  the  West,  tlic  .Northern  linnts  of  Califor- 
ma  in  L;it.  iJ"  on  tlie  South,  and  the  Southern 
hunts  of  the  Jiussiaii  j)ossessions  m  America  in  Lat. 
54-  \\y  on  the  \orth  — tliu<  extending  7(>0  miles  from 
Nortli  to  South,  and  averaging  about  oOO  miles  from 
Kast  to    West,   and    inclu(hnir  some  .>(J0,0()0   s(iuare 


o 


miles.  riu'  mouth  ot"  the  '•  Columbia  liiver ''  lies  .1 
l(\v  miles  North  of  tlio  'KUli  parallel  of  hititiulo.  In 
Us  coursi^  this  rivor  receives  many  tribitary  streams, 
both  Irom  the  North  and  the  South,  and,  about  oOO 
miles  from  it<  mouth,  is  divided  into  two  larije 
briuulies.  one  tendin<;  towards  the  North-East,  and 
the  other  South-East  ;  the  former  extendinij;  nearly  to 
the  Northern  limit  ot"  the  Oreiion  'J'erritory,  nt  the 
base  of  the  Rockv  Mountains,  and  the  other  (juitc  to 
iis  Southern  boundary  ;  thus  drainiuix  nearly  all  the 
inlnlor  of  the  territory,  and  a  considerable  portion  of 
it  that  lies  nearer  to  the  sea.  The  entrance  to  tlie 
'•  Strait  of  Juan  de  Euca"  is  in  Lat.  MP  oiV,  and  it 
runs  Northward  and  Eastw'ard  about  TiO  miles. 
-'  Nootka  Sound""  is  in  Lat.  M)-  .'H)^  on  the  South- 
western side  of  Quadra  and  Vancouver's  Island.  If 
these  facts  are  kc^pt  in  mind,  frecjuent  rei)etition  of 
them  may  hv.  onutted. 

Not  to  occuj)y  more  time  than  is  necessary,  I  pass 
bv  those  earlv  voyages  in  the  North  Pacific,  the 
accounts  of  which  contain  a  mixture  of  truth  and 
hction,  but  must  take  you  back  to  the  latter  ])art  of 
the  last  century,  at  which  time  it  is  admitted  that 
Spanish  uaviL^itors  discovered,  and  anchored  in, 
Nootka  Sound,  and  ex|)lored  the  coast  from  California 
to  th(^  present  Russian  boundary,  prior  to  the  Xorth- 
eru  \ Ovasje  of  the  celebrated  IJritish  naviifator.  Cap- 
tain Cook,  and  beforv;  tiie  navi<iators  of  any  other 
nation  had  visited  these  shores.  It  was  upon  this  fact, 
and  thecontiguiiy  of  territory,  that  Spain  tlien  founded 
liei  claim  to  the  exclusive  possession  of  all  the  Ameri- 
can coast,   irom  her  settlements   in  California  to  the 

1* 


6 


liu.-sian  boundary,  which  at  that  tiiuo  was  several 
deurces  North  ami  West  of  th(?  hue  now  esta!)Hshe(l. 

Captain  ( ook  (hscovcr(Ml  and  anchored  in  Nootka 
Sound  in  1771!,  and  uave  it  the  name  ol"  "■  iviiiL^ 
Cieoriie's  Sound."'  (which  he  afterwards  chana'cd  to 
'•  rSootka."")  not  then  knowing  that  the  Spanish  com- 
mander. Perez,  had  aiichori^d  tlierc  four  years  before, 
and  called  it  '•  Port  San  J^orenzo."  Cook  likewise 
saw.  and  nave  names  to,  several  prominent  points 
upon  the  coast,  but  did  not  anchor  in  any  other  |)lace 
South  of  the  present  liussian  boundary.  All  these 
points,  howev(M\  had  been  previously  seen,  and  named, 
|)\  the  Spaniards  :  so  that  the  Hritish  gained  no  title  to 
any  p.art  of  this  coast,  by  priority  of  discoverv,  from 
the  voyage  of  Captain  Cook.  The  policy  of  Spain, 
at  that  ]>erio(l.  did  not  })ermit  the  discoveries  of  her 
navigators  lo  be  made  public,  and  (Jreat  liritain  had 
therefore  uppan  nt  ground  for  claiming  (as  she  did 
claim)  the  discovery  of  [\ootka  Sound  for  Capt.'un 
Cook  :  and  the  events  which  i'oilowed,  occasioned  in 
|>art  by  this  allcdged  discovery,  brought  about  the 
arrangement  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain,  of 
which  1  proceed  to  give  an  account. 

Immediately  after  the  publication  of  Cook's  Voyage, 
which  was  dtdayed  till  the  beginning  of  17i;5,  Nootka 
S(nmd  became  the  common  resort  of  vessels  of  diller- 
ent  nations,  engaged  in  the  fur  trade.  In  17 J!!!,  a 
Mr.  Mears.  an  lOnglishman,  whoconnnanded  a  trading 
ves^o]  from  INlacao.  allcdged  to  belong  to  British 
.subjects  though  under  Portuguese  colors,  built  a  small 
vessel  at  ''  Friendly  Cove,"'  a  snug  harl)or  within  the 
Sound  :  and  the  residence,  in  a  hut  on  shore,  of  the 


persons  (;iii|)lo\  cd  ill  Ijuildiiig  this  vessel,  was  the  ibiin- 
datioii  ol"  tlie  Biitisli  chiini  to  a  settlement  i)rior  to  that 
inad(>  hy  tlu'  Sj)aiiiards,  on  the  snine  spt^t,  the  lollow- 
uiir  \ear.  In  May  17!'.I>,  two  public  .S])anish  ships, 
under  conunimd  ol'  Don  Ksteban  iMartinez,  arrived  in 
I'ricndiv  Cove  and  inunediately  tooiv  iornial  {)Ossess- 
lon  of  the  whole  surrounding  country  as  Spanish  terri- 
tory. Shorllv  alter,  Ahutinez  captured  two  oi'Mears' 
vessels  tor  alledued  infraction  of  the  Colonial  laws  ot" 
Spain.  iMcars  inunediately  [ii)pcaled  to  the  British 
(lovcriiuient,  and  his  exaggerated  statement  caused 
nrcat  excitement  m  ihirope  ;  and  these  j)roceedings 
iiiiv(>  rise  to  the  famous  "  Nootka  question,"  as  it  was 
then  calie(L  tliist  in  17U(>  came  very  near  involvini>; 
llnrope  \n  war,  for  which  great  })reparations,  at  an 
nmnense  expen>e,  were  made  both  by  Great  Britain 
and  Spain.  War,  however,  was  averted  by  a  conven- 
tion ma(U'  in  October  171)0,  b)  which  Spain  agr(;ed  to 
(•ompensate  Mears,  who  received  S2 10,000,  thoug;> 
the  actual  damage  he  sustained  wcjuld  have  been 
aiiiplv  compensated  by  a  tenth  part  of  that  sum.  ijiit 
til!'  most  important  feature  of  this  convention,  at  the 
pr(\-ent  time,  is  one  of  th(^  j)rovisions  of  the  3d  Article, 
upon  which  (ireat  Britain  now  relies  as  one  of  the 
St  roll  Li"  point  <  in  su|)port  of  her  claim  to  equal  rights 
witli  llie  liiited  Stales  in  the  "  Oregon  Territory."' 
In  this  .nt  Article  ••  it  is  ag.'ced  that  their  resj)ectivc 
subjects  sliajl  not  be  disturbed  or  molested,  either  in 
navii»atini>-  or  carrvinu'  on  their  fisheries,  in  the  Pacilic 
Ocean  or  in  the  South  Seas,  or  in  landing  on  the 
coasts  of  those  s(;as  in  places  not  already  occupied, 
l'(»r  tlH>  purpose  of  carrying  on  dicir  commerce  whh 


8 


«■ 


the  iijitives  of  tlio  coninrv,  or  if  I'  iiKtkinir  scttlrmtnts 
there.''  \  must  ask  voiir  jmrticular  nttrMition  to  this 
stipulation,  as  (jreat  liritain  relics  upon  it  for  resisting 
our  claim  to  the  exclusive  possession  olany  portion  of 
OrcLion  as  derived  from  Spain:  and  it  should  be 
remembered  that  at  this  j)eriod  we  liad  no  claim  wliat- 
ever  to  nny  territory  \\  est  of  the  Hocky  Mountains, 
but  sul)S(Mjuentlv  obtiiiued  all  that  S|>ain  was  then 
entitled  to.  In  IVIay  171' J,  Captain  iJobert  (iray,  in 
the  ship  < 'ohnnbia  of  Hoston,  discovered  and  (Mitered 
a  ^reat  river,  near  the  l^at.  of  4(P  North,  up  which  he 
proceeded  about  '20  miles,  and  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  hisshij),  ctdling  it  "  Columbia  lliver,"  a  name 
that  is  ireuerally  still  retained,  and  which  ought,  and  I 
trust  will  l)e  retained,  th(^ugh  attempts  have  been 
made  to  change  it  to  "  Oregon  Hiver."  JVe  certainly 
ought  to  retain  a  name  that  tends  to  confirni  the  fact 
of  its  discovery  l)y  one  of  our  own  citizens  —  a  fact 
that  has  been  denied  by  some  British  diplomatists. 
\  aucouver,  a  distinguished  British  navigator,  who 
was  engaged  in  surveying  the  Northwest  coast  of 
America  at  the  time  tiio  river  was  (hscoverinl  bv 
Gray,  designates  it,  upon  liis  chart  of  the  coast, 
"Columbia  River;'"  thereby  doing  justice  to  Gray, 
and  admitting  his  claim  to  the  discovery. 

Captain  Cray,  in  the  sunnner  of  ITDl,  discovered 
what  he  then  conjectured  to  be  the  mouth  of  a  river; 
but  no  certain  discovery  had  becMi  made,  and  no  ves- 
sel had  ever  entered  the  river  [)rior  to  the  entry  of  tlie 
Columbia  in  171i2;  (iiul  litis  Is  one  i^ round  of  our  pre- 
sent claim  to  the  territori/.  The  discovery  of  Captain 
Gray  excited  httle  attention  in  this  country  for  some 


HH 


r  ^ 


9 


\<-.'irs  jif'tcr  it  wa>'  injide,  because*,  as  I  liav(>  bolore 
iciiiarktMl.  we  had  then  no  claim  to  any  tcrritorv  West 
ul'tlic  |{(>cky  Mountains.  In  IflO;}  wo  ac(|uired  liOU- 
isiaua,  the  Nortliwestern  boundary  of  which  had 
never  been  clearly  (l(>fined,  and  we  maintained  that  it 
extended  in  that  direction  to  the  shores  of  tln^  Pacific. 
At  the  sunii-cstion  of  ]\Ir.  Jetlerson,  then  J^resident  of 
tlie  l-nited  Mates,  C'onuress  authorised  him  to  send 
out  suitable  persons  to  r.\j>lorc  the  country  t(j  the 
Pacific;  and  in  iMay  IJU)'!.,  Lewis  and  Clark  started 
uj)f.'  their  well  known  exjjedition  across  the  Conti- 
nent. 

lu  Octoix'r  1  <!(>.'),  after  crossing  the  IJocky  i\[oun- 
tains,  they  came  to  one  of  the  upper  branches  of  the 
•■  Columi)ia,''  upon  which  they  endjarked  in  canoes 
and  reacluMl  the  Pacific  Ocean  in  course  of  the  fol- 
lowing  month.  They  renniined  at  the  mouth  of  the 
(  olumbia  (lurinif  the  winter  of  ]»)0o-(),  and  re-cross- 
niLT  the  ( 'ontin(>nt,  arrived  in  the  United  States  in 
>t'pTend)er  lilOtl.  77/'.v  wai^  t'lr  first  exploration  of  any 
fnuNi  It  ill'  tli(  "■  Cohintbur  from  the  interior  ,o  theoeean, 
and  is  onf  of  the  tsrounds  upon  irliick  we  rest  our  e/aini. 
In  l<t()().  ^lm()n  I'razer,  u  member  of  the  British  North- 
west Compan\,  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains  several 
decrees  North  of  Lewis  and  Clarke's  rout(\  and  made 
their  lirst  estabhshment  westward  of  that  range,  about 
the  Lat.  ■'->)■"' :  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  any  British 
subject  wa-  upon  eith(M-  br<\nch  of  the  Columbia  pre- 
vious to  l!ll  1,  in  which  year  a  Mr.  'rhomj)son.  in  the 
serv'ue  of  the  Hntish  Northwest  Comj)any,  camo 
down  to  the  mouth  of  that  river  and  found  it  in  pos- 
session of  American  citizens,  who  had  recentlv  arrived 


10 


p 


thcro  froiu  tlio  I'nitod  Slutc^,  to  estnl)lisli  a  settlement. 
This  sutllcmcnt  was  projected   by  John  .).   Astor  of 
Now  York,  who  in  1!-1(»  lilted  ont  the  ship  Ton([nin, 
for  the  j)nri)'>^e  of  loundiiig-  it.      i  h;id  a  iiood  deal  of 
corrcspondentx^  npon  thissuhjeet  at  that  time  with  Mr. 
Astor,  who  ollered  me  an  interest  in  the  eoncer.'i,  and 
invited  mv.  to  take  connnand  of  the  expedition  by  sea, 
whicli  I   declined.     The  shif)  arrived  at  the  montli  of 
the  Columbia  in   iMnrch   I!'.!!,  and  founded  the  first 
settlement  made  l)y  civilized  peophi  upon  the  Colum- 
bia lliver;  and  ilils  is  anollu r  i:nnni(l  of  our  prcst nt 
claim.     The    nndertakinii   j)r(>ved    highly    disastrous, 
;tnd  it  was  fortiin:ite  for  me  that  I  did  not  accej)t  the 
j)roposal  of  Air.  Astor;   for   altlioniih  my  exi)erienco 
miiiht  have  averted  one  jireat  misfortune,  yet  the  want 
of  success  was  mainly  owinu'  to  causes  that  could  not 
ha\e  IxM'ii  foreseen  or  ijiiarded  aaainst.     The  particu- 
lars of  this  ill-fated  exj)edition  may  be  found  in  Wasli- 
mu'ton   lrvin,!i-'s   "Astoria;"   and  as  his  mauical  pen 
imparts  a  deep  interest  to  every  subject  that  it  touches, 
those  of  you  who  have  not  read  the  work  cannot  fail 
tr>  be  hiuiily  oratilied   by  its  perusal.     The  particular 
mis!()rtune  to  whicli  1   allude  as  oiKi  tliat  miu'ht  have 
been  avoided,  was  the  destruction  of  the  ship  Toncjuin 
iuid    all    her    crew.     She    was    conuuauded    by    Mr. 
'j'horiie.  who  was  or  had  been,  I  believe,  an  officer  m 
ihe   Navv,  but   wholly   nnac([uaiiited  with  the   North- 
west Coast    or   wilh  the   Indian  character.     At    the 
retiuest  of  Mr.  Astor  I  engaged  for  him,  to  go  as  chief 
mute  of  tlie  ship,  a  younii'  man  belonifini*-  to  lioxbury, 
who  had  previouslv  b(>en  several  times  uj)on  the  coast; 
but   h(^   was   unfortunately   lost,   with   a  boat's   crew, 


■ 


II 


upon  the  liar  at  the  entrance  of  the  •'  Cohnnhia.""  upon 
the  liot  arrival  of  the  .<hi|».  Al'tf'r  landing-  her  passen- 
iiers  and  pari  of  her  cariio  at  the  mouth  ui"  the  river, 
the  Tontjuui  proceeded  to  vi-it  the  Xorthern  ])orts  lor 
tlie  purpose  oi"  trading  with  the  huhans,  and  was 
shortiv  allerwards  cut  oil",  and  the;  wdiolc  crew  juas- 
sacred  \)y  the  natives  at  Clayoiiuot,  near  Aoutka 
.Suunch 

Soon  after  the  (h>parture  of  tlie  Toncfuin  from  New 
Y'ork.  Mr.  Astor  despatcluHl  another  party  over  land 
for  th(;  (Johimhia,  under  tiie  command  of  Mr.  Wilson 
1*.  Hunt:  the  survivors  of  which,  after  sullering  ahnost 
incredihle  hardsini)s,  reached  "Astoria"  (for  so  the 
estahhshment  at  tlie  mouth  of  tlie  Cohmihia  was  called) 
in  the  spring  of  HHi.  I^arly  in  IDlo,  tlie  |)arty  at 
Astoria  received  news  of  the  war  between  the  United 
States  and  (ireat  Britain,  and  in  December  of  that 
vear  the  British  Sloop-of-war  Bacoor  arrived  at  tlie 
month  of  tile  Columbia  and  captured  the  fort  and  set- 
tlement. A  feu  weeks  previous  to  this  occurrence, 
and  in  apprehension  of  it,  tliose  in  charge  ot'  the 
establishment  had  sold  their  whole  stock  of  furs  and 
merchandise  to  the  agents  of  the  Briti-h  Northwest 
Conipany  for  the  sum  of  ,s' UMKIO,  and  taken  pa\nient 
in  bills  n[)on  Montreal;  so  that  Captain  Black,  ol'  the 
Bacoon.  got  (Jiilv  the  empty  honor  of  capturing  a 
defenc(>less  and  unresisting  fort.  The  gallant  captain 
was  greatlv  incensed  at  the  loss  of  his  expected  booty, 
and  is  said  to  have  exclaimed  —  with  some  coarseness 
of  expression  — that  '•  it  Wiis  a  \  aiikee  trick  I  '' 

'rh(>  fir-t  article  ol"  the  Treaty  of  i'eace  between 
the    I'nitcd   States   and  (ireat   iiritain,   concluded  at 


n 


(Jlieiit  in  December  Utl  V,  j^tipulated  '^  that  all  terri- 
tory, })lace.s  and  possessions  whatsoever,  tak(!ii  by 
eitlier  i)arty  i'roni  the  otlu^r  duriii«^^  or  after  tlic  war, 
except  certain  Islands  in  the  Atlantic  claimed  by  both, 
should  be  restored  without  delay."'  Tnder  this  stii)U- 
lation  ''  Astoria,"  the  |)ort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bia, was,  in  due  form,  delivered  by  the  British  ;uith(.)r- 
ities  to  Mr.  Prevost,  th(>  ajzent  of  the  Inited  States 
appointed  to  receive  it.  The  act  of  delivery  is  as 
follows :  — 


"  In  obedience  to  the  commands  of  his  lloyal  llijrh- 
ness  the  J^rince  Iteireiit,  siirnilied  in  a  despatch  from 
die  Jiiiiht  Honorable  the  Earl  Bathurst,  acklressed  to 
the  partners  or  aoeiits  of  tiie  Northwest  Comi)any, 
beariii'r  date  the  27th  of  .Januarv,  I!!l}{,  and  in  obc- 
dience  to  a  subs(H|uent  order,  dated  the  JCitli  ot  Jul} , 
h-om  W.  II.  Shcrilf  Es(i.,  C"a|)tai!i  of  his  Majesty's 
Ship  Andromache,  we,  die  undersioned,  do,  in  con- 
lormity  to  the  1st  Article  of  die  Treaty  of  Cihent, 
restore  to  the  Covernmeiit  of  the  Lnited  States, 
throuoh  its  agent,  J.  B.  I'revost  Kscp,  the  settlement 
of  Fort  (jeoruc,  on  the  (  olumbia  IJiver.  —  (iiven 
under  our  hands,  in  triplicate,  at  Fort  George,  (Co- 
lumbia Uiver)  diis  (Uh  day  of  October,  1»18. 

F.  iJicKKv,  Citpt.  of  H.  M.  Ship  Blossom, 
J.  kEiTii,  of  tlit  Norllncest  Coiiqiaiti//'' 

To  which  Mr.  Prevost.  returned  diis  acceptance  : — 
"  1  do  hereby   ajkiiowledge  to  have   this  day   re- 
ceived, ill  behalf  of  the  (iovernment  of  the    United 
States,  die  possession  of  the   setdement  designated 


I 


1 


ahuvo.  ill  contMriuity  to  the  l^t  Article  of  tlio  Treaty 
(>r  (ilicnt.  —  (liven  under  my  IkukI.  in  tripliciite.  at 
I'ori   (ieoriie,  (Columbia  Kiver)  tliirf   tJih  ol"  OctoUor, 

nil;:. 

.).  I).  Vki.\{):^\,  -hriil  for  l/i(.  I  iiilcd  Sidles." 


Ill  till-  iraMsCer  the  pliicc  is  desiunatcd  as  "Fori 
deoriie,"  that  beiii^  tlu;  name  bestowed  upon  it  by 
Captain  lihu  k  of  the  i^acoon,  at  th(;  time  of  strikinif 
ilie  Ainerican  and  hoisting  the  British  ila^'.  77</.s  un- 
roiidiiioiuil  rcsioiulioii  of  Asiorid  is  anolhtr  rircumstance 
tiiitnl  ill  supjiort  of  our  rldiin. 

'V\\v  first  attf.'iiipt  to  settle,  by  iieL'ociation,  the 
boundarv  between  territory  claimed  by  the  IJritish  and 
the  I'liileil  States.  West  of  the  Ivocky  Mountains,  was 
made  at  l.fuidon.  in  li;l!!,  by  Alessrs.  Rush  and  CJalla- 
iiii.  Comiuis.-ioiiers  on  the  ])art  of  the  United  States, 
and  .\Lv-<rs.  ( i'>ull)urM  and  Itobinson,  on  the  part  of 
(ireat  Dritain.  These  Commissioners  aureed  in 
takiiiii  the  parallel  of  U)^  as  the  boundary  line  from 
tiie  l.ake  of  the  Woods  to  the  Hocky  Mountains,  as  it 
now  stands,  and  a  ))roposition  was  made  by  Messrs. 
Iiush  ;ind  (lallatin  to  continue  the  same  to  the  l*acific 
Ocean,  as  between  the  contractinii'  parties,  with  a  res- 
ervation as  to  the  rights  of  other  claimants,  having 
reference  doubtless  to  the  claims  of  Spain  and  Kussia, 
at  that  time.  This  was  declined  by  the  British  Com- 
mis>ion(!rs.  and  the  neootiatiou,  upon  this  point,  ended 
111  the  iVdIowiiig  stipulation,  which  is  the  M  Article  of 
the  Convention  of  Kilo. 

••  It  is  ai:reed  that  any  country  that  may  be  claimed 
b\    either  party  on  the  iSorthwest  (  <.)ast  ol"  America, 


H 


vvcytward  of  the  Stony  Mountains,  sliall,  tofrothcr  uUli 
Its  harbors,  bays  and  creeks,  iuid  tlic  naviijation  of  all 
rivers  within  the  same,  be  ih^c  and  open  tbr  tlu^  term 
of  ten  years,  Irom   the  date  ol"  the  siniiaturc;  of  the 
present  Convention,  to  tiie  vessels,  citizens  and  sub- 
jects, of  the  two  Powers:  it  beinn-  well  understood  that 
this  airreement  is  not  to  be  construed  to  the  j)r<'jii(lico 
of  any  claim  which  either  of  the  two  hiirh  contractinir 
parties  may  have  to  any  j)art  of  the  said  countrv,  n(ir 
shall  it  be   taken   to  allect  the  claims  of   any  other 
Power  or  State  to  any  |)art  of  the  said  country;   the 
ojil)    object  of  ih(!   hiiih    contractin<r  |)iirties.   in  that 
respect,    beinir  to    jirevent   disputes    and    dilicrences 
amonir  themselves." 

Fn    1819.   the   -I'lorida   Treaty,"    as   it    is   usuallv 
called,  was  concluded  betwecMi  Spain  and  the    (  iiited 
States:   by  the  '.k\  Article  of  which  Spain  cedes  to  the 
United  States  all  nohts.  claims,  and  pretensions  to  any 
lerritorv  upon  the  Western  Coast  of  America  north  of 
Lat.  12'  :  and  this  nss'n,n  forms  (inolhrr  i^roinul  of  our 
claim    to    the    Or^n-on     Tarilon/.      IJv    a    Cmv.M.tion 
between  the  [iiited    States  and    Russia,  si.nu.d  at  St. 
Pctersburo-  i„   \112\.  the  Cat.  of  .>P    UV   was  a-rcrd 
ujjon  as  the  boundary,  (coiitrollino-  the  riniit  of  mak- 
ing settlements.)  b,>tweeii    terntorv    claimed    bv    the 
contracting  j)arties  upon  the  AOrtiiwest  Coast  of  the 
American   Continent.     W V-   havin-  succeeded   to  all 
the  nohts  of  Spain,  and  the  claims  of  Russia  beinir 
adjusted,    the   claimants  — as   before    remarked  —  to 
territory  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  Ivin-  between 
the  parallels  of  42o  and  0404.CK,  were  reduced  to  two, 
VIZ. :   the  Cnitcd  States  and  Great  iiritain. 


15 


■thor  witli 
ion  of  all 
the  torin 
■(!  of  the 
iuid  sub- 
tood  that 
[)r('jiulic(j 
iitractin<r 
iitry,  IK  ti- 
ny otlirr 
try ;  tlm 
.  in  tliat 
ticroiiccs 

iisiijilh 
liiitcd 
"s  to  the 
IS  to  any 
north  ot" 
'd  oj' our 

lV(Mltioil 

"(I  at  St. 
'  agreed 
))'  niak- 

hy  the 
t  of  tho 
1  to  all 
ii  heinij 
r>d  —  to 
tctwccn 

to  two, 


Prior  to  tiio  (Convention  with  Rnssia  in  \\\1\  a 
proposition  was  made  hy  the  American  envoys  at 
London  and  St.  l*(^tersi)ur;j,  for  a  joint  Convention  to 
settle  the  claims  of  the  three  Powers —  Hiissia,  Clrcat 
l»ritain,  and  the  I  nited  States  —  to  territory  West  of 
tlie  liockv  .Mountains;  hut  the  j)roposition  was  de- 
elined  hy  (in>at  IJritain  and  Russia;  each  preferring' 
to  iieuoeiatc  with  us  and  eacii  other  separately.  In 
\\\l\  annthrr  atteiii|)t  at  negotiation  ujioii  this  suhjeet 
was  made  at  London,  l)y  Air.  IJush  in  hehalf  of  th(! 
I  nited  Sta!(\-,  and  Messrs.  lluskisson  and  Stratl"ord 
(  amiiiiii  <»n  the  part  of  Great  Rritain,  which  failed. 
'I'licrc  is  reason  to  helieve  that  this  failure  may  he 
ascrihed  in  part  to  the  dissatisfaction  manifi'sted  in 
l^iirope  al  lln' extraordinary  declaration  made  hy  J^r(\si- 
d(iit  Monroe.  Ill  his  annual  message  to  (Joiii,n-ess  in 
J)e('i'inlM'r  li'.j.5,  ••  that  henceforth  the  American  Con- 
timius  are  not  to  he  considered  as  subjects  for  coloni- 
zation 1)\  an\  Liiropean  Power"'  —  a  declaration,  per- 
haps, at  tliat  tunc,  savoriiii;-  UKjre  of  patriotism  than  of 
wiMlnin.  .\tar  the  close  of  l<>i()  iK^^i'ocititions  were 
auai'i  coininciiccd  at  London  betwei;!!  ATr.  (Jallatin, 
on  the  part  ot'  the  L nited  States,  and  Alessrs.  llus- 
kis-dii  and  Addiiiiiton  on  the  part  of  CJreat  Pritain, 
wliicli  contiiiui'd  till  August  l'>27,  without  eH'cctiiii*-  a 
stMtlemeiit  of  tli(!  ([iiestion,  but  resulted  in  an  agree- 
ment to  continue  \\\v  'o(\  Article  of  the  Convention  ot 
loir,  tnr  an  indelinite  time:  either  parly,  howcn'er, 
beiiiLT  at  lilxrtv  to  abrogate  and  annul  it  by  giving 
twelve  months  notice  to  the  other  j)arty  at  any  time 
after    iUth   October   11528,   when   the   Convention   of 


16 


ri 


loll!  would  expuv  1)\  its  own  limitation.     And  this  is 
the  present  state  ottlie  (|iiestion. 

Ill  all  tliese  neuotiatioiis  our  ( "oinniissioners  iijive 
unirorinlv  proposed  the  parallel  of  VJ  to  the  shores  of 
the  I'acitic  Ocean,  as  the  houndarv  hetweeii  the  terri- 
tories of  (ire'at  IJritaui  and  the  I'nited  States.  WCst  of 
the  llocky  Mountains.  The  hritish  ('oinniissioners 
oH'cred  to  take  this  houndarv  aeross  these  mountains, 
and  West  of  them  untd  it  intersected  the  upper  hraii(di 
of  the  Columhia,  thenc(Mo  continue  the  houndary  liii«' 
alonu  the  middle  of  this  hranch  to  the  main  stream, 
and  down  that  to  the  I'acitic  Ocean  ;  the  I  nited  States 
to  possess  all  South  and  J%ast  and  (in'at  llritain  all 
North  and  West  of  it.  —  the  iiaviuation  ol"  the  river  to 
remain  open  and  I'ree  to  hoth  parties.  The  American 
Commissioners  declined  yit'ldiuu'  to  (Ireat  Hritaiu  (iiii/ 
ttriilorij  South  of  l!' \  hut  ATr.  Oallatin.  in  l.'ljl),  pro- 
posed "that  it' the  said  line  (the  j)arallel  ol'  iD  )  should 
cross  any  of  the  hranehes  of  the  ('oluiid)ia  at  points 
from  which  they  are  naviuahle  hy  boats  lo  the  main 
stream,  the  navigation  of  such  hranehes.  and  of  the 
main  stream,  should  he  perpetualK  free  and  common 
to  tlie  peo])le  of  both  nations.""  'I'his  proposition  was 
rejected  l)y  the  British;  hut  tiiev  e.\pr(>ssed  their  will- 
ingness to  yield  to  the  luited  SiiUcs  the  whole  t(>rri- 
tory  lying  North  of  t!ie  Columhia  as  far  as  the  Straits 
of  .hian  de  Fuca,  and  Fast  from  the  Pacilic  to  Admi- 
ralty Inlet.  The  liriti<h.  liowev(;r.  have  uniformly 
insisted  Uj)on  the  joint  occupancy  and  free  navigation 
of  the  Columhia,  from  its  mouth  to  the  j)oint  of  inter- 
section of  the  l()rty-niiith  degree  of  latitude  ;  and  upon 
tins  point  the  negotiation  lias  hitherto  failed.     It  will 


17 


l)(>  pcrrcivcd,  that  tlirouirlioiit  tlicsc?  negotiations,  vvc 
have  clainicMl  tlio  cxrlnsive  possession  South  ot*  49*^, 
—  ollerinuf  to  (irciit  Britain,  conditiunalhi^  the  riiiht  to 
niivJLnite  a  j)nrt  of  the  Columbia  witliin  that  hniit. 
(iroat  [Britain  on  the  contrary  disclaims  any  preten- 
sions to  c.rrhtsirp  sovereiirnty  over  any  portion  of  the 
ttrntory  hctwcen  49^  and  'iJ^,  but  insists  uj)on  a 
ri^ht  (iC  joint  occu[)ancv  and  of  making  settlements  in 
anv  part  of  it  not  already  occu|)ied  ;  a  right  admitted 
by  Sj),iin  in  the  ( 'oiiventioii  of  1790,  and  at  present 
scciifcd  to  her  bv  the  Md  Article  of  the  Convention  of 
jilj!!.  and  one  which  she  has  already  exercised  to  a 
considerable  <>\t(Mit.  A  piirt  of  these  claims  shi'  has 
boon  willing  To  rrliiH|uish.  and  \V(>  hav(^  insisted  upon 
her  rrlin(|iiisliini>-  th(>  whole  ;  and  thus  th(^  matter 
sttinds. 

riic  grounds  of  our  claim  are  thus  suuuued  up  by 
,\lr.  (iri'enho\v,  from  wliose  very  al)l(^  Memoir.  j»re- 
pnrod  for  the  use  of  Congress  in  lll'iO,  I  have  taken 
somi'  lact> :  — '-the  hrst  discov(>ry  and  entrance  into 
tl!(  Coliimbiii.  by  ("aptain  Gray,  in  1792  —  the  first 
<'\p|oiation  from  its  source  to  its  mouth  by  Lewis  and 
Chirk  in  IJ'.d.j  —  the  first  settlement  Uj)on  any  portion 
<»f  Its  bordrrs  miide  by  Mr.  Astor's  party  at  Astoria  in 
ll'll  — tli(>  unconditional  restoration  ol'  this  jiost. 
which  was  cnpturcd  by  (Jreat  J3ritain  during  tlu^  war. 
and  restored  under  the  1st  Article  of  the  Treaty  of 
Client,  therebv  virtually  recognizing  the  territorial 
riuht  of  the  United  States  —  the  acciuisitioii  by  the 
r  lilted  States,  under  the  Florida  trc^aty,  in  1819,  of 
all  the  titles  of  Spain,  which  titles  were  derived  from 
the  discovery  and  exploration  of  the  regions  in  ques- 


)* 


1« 


!..! 


tioii,  In  Spanish  n;i\  luators.  Ix.-foro  tlu'V  had  been  seen 
bv  the  people  of  aiiv  other  civili/.ed  nation  —  and, 
luj^tlv,  upoji  the  iironiul  ol  co^itiixuinj — we  alr(.'adv 
possessing  the  territory  up  {a  its  Kastern  boundar\  .*" 

Great  Britain  resists  our  ehiinis.  and  maintains  her 
own,  bv  denviu^-  the  (hscovery  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  to  Captain  Gray  in  171)2,  and  claimiuii'  it 
for  one  of  her  own  naviirators,  ]\lr.  jAIears,  in  17!i!!, 
four  years  before  the  alledued  discovery  of  (J raw* 
She  asserts,  too,  that  some  of  her  subjects,  then  in  the 
service  of  tlie  British  .Northwest  Company,  e.\i)lored  a 
part  ol"  this  river,  and  formed  establishments  upon  its 
borders,  iihout  (he  samr  lliiu  that  similar  acts  were  done 
by  citizens  of  the  United  States.  She  insists  that  the 
restoration  of  "  Astoria,"  even  if  made  without  r(^^er- 
vation,  which  is  denied,  amounts  onlv  to  an  admission 
of  our  co-ordinate  riirht  to  nuike,  and  n^tain,  settle- 
ments within  the  limits  of  the  disputed  territory  ;  a 
nglit  which  she  has  never  (juestioned.     She  admits 


V 


lli'ci'tii,  a  ^I'-aiiisli  iia\l2al<ir.  sailiiii:  aioiii:-  llir  coa^^t  in  177.").  <li-cov- 
coii.  aliuia  the  jiarallrl  oi'  ^!i;>-'.  a  1,1, ili"  ji, •ad-land,  or  |ir(MM.>nl(i|-v,  to 
whicli  111"  iravi."  tlir  luunc  nt'Capo  St.  Hoc,  or  l{ni|ui-.  and  ininicdiatciv 
boiith  of  it  an  opcniiiu,  wliicli  he  ronjo-lun-il  to  lie  tlir  ciitrancc  ol'a 
Ku.T,  and  rallfd  i!  tlic  -'nivcr  Sr.  Hor."  ||  is,  r.i  say  llir  Ira.M.  cvtra- 
ordinan  tluii  an_\  mmc  -Iniuid  claim  the  di-.-ci(V(r\  of  die  ••  ( 'nlninliia,"'  or 
any  utile;-  Hiwr  in  its  iici-liliurliood.  \\w  .Mcars.  after  readiiiL'  his  own 
joiinial  ofhis  Voyage.  |iiili|is|ied  in  l,oiidon  in  I7!U.  I'roni  this  jonrn.al 
II  :<ii|iears  diat  .Mears  coasted  alum;-  ijie  slim-e,  t'roiii  Lai.  |S^'  ni  L.al.  1.")^. 
ili  tlie  iin|.e  ol'lindini;-  the  i.|.enilll'-  seel,  l)\  li,'C,.|a.  In  l/it.  |i;-\  |()-'  lie 
discnv.Tcd  tiie  Cape,  and  soiiili  of  it  rlw  fnip/iiisrd  entranc,.  m  ;,  |{iver. 
and  after  a  careful  exaniination  decided  tliat  "  no  siicji  Kiver  as  tliat  of 
St.  Hoc  exists,  as  laid  down  in  tlie  Spanisli  ciiarts."  lie  called  tlie 
".supposed  opening;"  "  Hecepti,,,,  Uay."  .and  tlie  lieaddand,  "Cape  Dis- 
at)pointin(Mit."  a  n.iine  tli.at  it  liears  to  the  present  day,  and  one  tliat 
oloaily  indicates  tlio  lesuh  uf  Meais's  altenijiLs  at  disecjveiy. 


w 


3011  seen 
1  —  and, 

!llr(.'iHlv 

i(lar\  .*" 
a  ins  lior 
h  ol"  the 
liiuiiiii'  it 
in  I7!i!!, 
■  (J  ray.* 
Ml  ill  tlio 
plorcd  a 
upon  its 
^Yv  (loiu; 
that  tlio 
It  r(^sol•- 
Iniission 
1,  sottle- 
itory  ;  a 
)  admits 


I  .),  <ll<COV'- 
Mdllldl'V,    to 

ilririliatcly 
iraiiiM'  ()t';i 
'■■i.-l.  cxtra- 
iiiiiliia,'"  or 
\'j  his  own 
Ills  Joiii'imi 
o  l,at.  ir)'-, 
li;-\  10-'  lie 

0  il    IJivtT. 

r  as  tlint  ol" 
ciillcd  tlic 
•  (.'a|ic  Dis- 

1  one   tli.'tt 


thai  ilir  .3d   A»-ticlc  ot"  tho  "Florida  Treaty"  vosts  in 
the    I  lilted   States  all    the    riuhts   uhicli   l)(;lon«fe(l   to 
Si>ain  at  the  liiiu;  this  treaty  was  made,  hut  maintains 
dial    e(|ual  participation  in   all  these  riolits  had  heen 
secured    to    (ireat    Dritaiu    hy   tlie   od    Article   of  the 
Convention   of  171)0,  commonly  called  tho  "  Nootka 
Convention."     Tiie  (Jovernnieiit  of  the  United  States 
aver  ihat  the  stipulations  in  this  ;>d  Article  were  ahro- 
galed  hv    the  declaration   of   war   l)y   Spain    against 
(ireat  Britain    in    ITDO.     'J'he    Jiritish  deny  that  such 
was  the  ellect  of  the  \.ar.  hut  assert,  that,  even  ii'  it 
wrre  so,  the  treaty  of  |)eace  Jietwecn  Spain  and  (ircuit 
lintaiii   in    liii'l    virtually   renewed  or    revived  those 
stipulations,  and  insist  that  they  are  now  in  full  force. 
In  course  r»l'  the  ncgociation  in  1()2G,  Messrs.  Iluskis- 
son   and  Addini^ton  presented  the   following  summary 
of  the  pretensions    of  Croat   Britain.  —  "Croat    Hri- 
laiu  claims  no  exclusive  sovereignty  over  any  |)ortioii 
of  th<!  terrltorv  on   the    l^icitic  between  tho  lid  and 
the  V,H\\  |)arallels  of  latitude  :  her  jU'osent  claim,  not 
ill  respect  to  any  part,  hut  to  tlu."  whole,  is  limit<'d  to  a 
right  of  joint  occupancy  in  common  with  oth(>r  States, 
leaving  the   riuht  of  exclusive  dominion  in  ahnjance ; 
'x\\(\  her  pretensions  tend  to  the  mere  maintenance  of 
her  o\\  n  nulits.  lu  resistance  to  the  exclusive  cliaractcr 
of  the  pre1eu>ioiis  ot' the  I'nitod  States."' 

••  The  riiihts  of  Cr(;at  Britain  are  recorded  and  de- 
Jiiied  III  tin  Convention  of  1790;  they  embrace  the 
riszht  to  navigate  the  waters  of  those  C(n.. 'tries,  to 
settle  in  and  over  any  part  of  them,  and  to  trade  with 
the  inhabitants  and  occu[)iers  of  the  same.  These 
rights  have  been  peaceably  exercised  ever  since  the 


20 


■  I. 


ft 


i| 


i"; 


(late  of  that  Convention  ;  that  is,  tor  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years.  Under  that  Convention  vahiable  British 
interests  have  <2:rown  up  in  those  countries.  It  is  ad- 
mitted that  tile  I'nited  States  possess  the  same  riijjhts, 
althouiih  they  have  been  exercised  by  them  onlv  in  a 
single  instance,  and  have  not,  since  the  vear  1M13, 
been  exercised  at  all  ;  but  beyond  those  rights,  they 
possess  none." 

^-  In  the  interior  of  the  territory  in  (|uestion.  the 
subjects  of  Great  Britain  have  h:ul,  for  nianv  vears, 
numerous  settlements  iind  trading-posts;  several  of 
these  posts  are  on  the  tributary  streams  of  the  Colum- 
bia; several  upon  the  Cohuubia  itself;  sonu-  to  the 
northwiird  and  others  to  the  southward  of  that  river; 
and  they  navigate  the  Columbia  as  the  soh'  channel 
tor  the  conveyance  ot  their  produce  to  th(>  IJritish 
stations  nearest  the  sini.  and  for  the  shipment  of  it 
from  thence  to  Cireat  Britain.  It  is  also  bv  the  Co- 
luiid)ia  and  its  tributary  streams  thnt  these  posts  and 
settlements  recoived  their  annual  supplies  from  (ireat 
Ihitain." 

'•  To  the  interests  and  establishments  w  Inch  Hritish 
industry  and  enterprise  have  created,  (ireat  liritain 
owes  protection  :  that  protection  will  hv  gi\('n,  both 
as  regards  settlement  and  livedom  of  trach;  and  navi- 
gation, with  every  attention  not  to  infriui^e  the  co- 
orrlinate  rights  of  the  Cmt(>d  States;  it  being  the 
desu-e  of  th(^  British  (iovermnent.  so  loni:  as  the  joint 
occtipatirif  ronlinuf's,  to  regulate  its  own  obligations  by 
the  same  rules  which  govern  the  obligations  of  every 
other  occui>ying  party." 

Some  of  die  objections  made  by  the  British  Corn- 


2\ 


of  nearly 
Ic  British 
It  is  ad- 
ic  riiihts, 
only  in  a 
'ar  HI  13, 
lits,   they 

tion.  the 
!iy  years, 
'veral  of" 
■  Coluin- 
le  to  the 
it  river  : 
channel 
>  British 
['lit  of  it 
the  (  o- 
'^sts  and 
n  (ireat 

I  Hritish 
I  Britain 
•n,  hoth 
rid  navi- 
the  co- 
■in^  the 
/ir  joint 
tions  by 
►f  every 

h  Com- 


iiii<-ioners  to  onr  claims  to  tlu  r.rclHsliw  possession  of 
the  w  hole  territory  cannot  be  easily  and  satisfactorily 
aiHWf'r^MJ.  and  some  of  th(Mr  objections  are  niifounded 
or  frivolous,  the  mere  skirmishin*^'  of  diplomac),  and 
unwoiiliv  of  hiiih-minded  diplomatists:  bnt  it  nuist,  I 
think,  be  evident  to  any  one  who  looks  carefully  and 
impartially  into  tin?  whoh.'  matter,  that  sonir  of  the 
preteiisions  of  each  |)arty  are,  to  say  the  least.  j)lausi- 
ble  :  and  that  accordino- to  the  rules  establi  bed  amoni^r 
civili/cd  nations  in  similar  cases,  each  has  some  rights 
which  should  be  adjusted  and  settled  by  comj)romise 
and  mutual  concession.  How  oui>in  this  ([uestion  to 
be  srtllfd.  and  bow  is  it  likely  to  be  sc^ttk'd  :  To 
iuiswer  these  iutjuiries  nnderstandiiiiily  it  is  ne'cessary 
to  look  at  the  objects  which  the  r(>spectiv(>  parties 
probably  hav»*  in  view  by  the  ac(iuisition  of  teirilory 
west  of  the  llocky  Mountains.  It  seems  to  me  appar- 
ent that  (ireat  Hritain  wants  it  only  as  an  extended 
iiel.l  (.1  action  for  her  <2-re;it  hnntinii-  and  liir-tradini^ 
corporiitKiii.  the  "•  Hudson  Hay  Company.*'  Thus 
lai.  with  out  e.\c(^ption.  |)erhai)s.  she  has  ma<le  no 
other  u<e  of  an\  |»ortion  of  this  vast  region,  in  which 
her  iiK cements  have  been  um-estricted  for  nearly  fifty 
\cars;  and  Messrs.  Iluskisson  and  Addin<:toii.  the 
l»riti>li  ( Oinmissioiiers.  speak  of  the  importaiuM^  o( 
th<'  free  iiaviiiation  of  tIk^  Columbia  |{iv(>r  onl\  with 
retcrcnce  to  the  establishments  of  the  lliid-on  Ibiy 
(oiiipaiiv.  In  fact.  b\  existinu'  laws  of  (ireat  liritain, 
Hritisli  subjects,  except  .-ervaiits  of  this  Company, 
an^  \irtu;',llv  exelud(Hl  from  the  whojt;  territory. 

Sinre  the   la-t   iieaociation  in  1827,  it  has  become 
evident   that  the  country   South  of  ilV^  is  nnu;h  less 


22 


1 


valuable  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  furs  tlian  it  was 
supj)oso{l  to  be  at  tliat  time.  TJie  fnr-bearin(T  animals 
are  not  so  abundant  as  tlicy  arc  furtber  JNortb,  and 
tbe  eniplovnunit  of  procuring  furs  —  unlike  most  otber 
pursuits  —  being  a  work  of  destruction  ratber  tban  of 
pro(lu('ti(^n,  its  success  destroys  its  })ermanency  ;  and 
tliis  result  iias  already,  to  some  extent,  b<>en  realised 
by  tli(^  lludsou  Day  Company.  Tbe  im|)()rtance  and 
value  of  tbe  fur  business  West  of  tbe  llocky  Moun- 
tains and  Soutb  of  V,)-  is  irreativ  overratcMl.  Mr. 
Wvetli,  a  gentleman  of  intelligenc(!  wbo  now  resides 
in  tbe  niMiiliboriuf;  town  of  ("ambridnc  bas,  since 
1<S;)J.  led  two  parti(^s.  at  dilferent  times,  across  the 
Rocky  Mountains  —  and  resided  \Vest  of  tbem  for 
several  yi^ars.  His  cbaracter,  and  bis  tborough 
knowlediie  of  tbe  sul)j(H't,  inspire  full  coididence  in 
bis  stiUemenfs:  jind  be  is  ot"  tbe  o])inion  that  tbe  nett 
])rolits  rcab/.cd  by  the  Hudson  IJay  Companv,  from 
their  ((•Ilcction  of  furs  within  the  before-named  limits, 
did  not.  in  I  ;!;>(;.  (>.\cee(l  tbe  siun  of  slO.OOO.  And 
it  seems  bighl\  probable  that  th(^  iJritisb  ( iovernnuMit, 
waiUiiig  tbe  country  mainly  for  its  furs,  would  be 
more  willing  to  yield  the  portion  of  it  1\  inii'  Soutb  of 
•i9-  at  the  j)reseiit  time  than  they  were  in  1!!J7. 

Our  (ioverniiH'iit.  on  the  contrary,  seek  the  ac(|ui- 
sition  of  the  region  WV.-t  of  th(3  i{ocky  Aioiwitains  as 
an  (wtcMisioii  of  tiie  territory  of  the  I'nited  Stat(>s,  to 
l)(>  us(hI  hereafter  \u  the  same  manner  as  any  otber 
])orti(»n  of  our  territory  —  for  tb(3  forumtion  of  ?iew 
States;  and  for  this  purpose  tb(}  country  Soutb  of  tbe 
49tb  })arallel  of  latitude  is  most  conveniently  situated. 
Being  the   portion   best   adapted  to  agricultural  and 


23 


n  it  was 

animals 
)rtli,  and 
)st  other 
*  than  of 
cy ;   and 

realised 
nee  and 

Moun- 
(1.  Mr. 
r  resides 
Ls,  since 
ross  the 
licni  tor 
horonijh 
lence  in 

the  nett 
IV,  Iron  I 
'd  limits, 
0.  And 
'rmiient, 
,()iild  be 
V)lltll    of 


('  n('(|Ui- 
iitniiis  as 
^tut(>s,  to 
iiy  otiier 
of  ?ie\v 
th  of  the 
sitnatcd. 
nral  and 


m.'iunfiictiinriu  purposes,  it  mi^ht  he  reasonably  ex- 
pected that  we  should  1)0  content  with  this  (hvision  : 
but  I  am  not  (juite  sure  that  our  Government  will  so 
readilv  accede  to  it. 

The   people  of  this  country  are  both  covetous  and 

and)itious  in  reiiard  to  territorv.       Tlu^y  covet  and  arc 

readv  to  iriasp  at  all  that  lii.'S  upon  thcMr  border.-,  and 

are  ambitious  of  extcudiiiu^  their  em])ire  from  se.a  to 

sea  —  from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  horders 

of  the    I'acitic.      I  do   ?iot   particij'ate   in  this  ffclinii'. 

and   have    little  svmpathv   with   those   who   cherish    it. 

Settleiiieiils  scattered  over  a  vast  extent  of  territory — 

very  iikelv  to  he  badiv  lioveriied  in  time  of  peace,  and 

certain  to  present  remote^  and  exposed  points  to  he  de- 

{'(MkUmI  !n  tnne  of  war  —  will  not.  in  my  helief.  add  to 

ttc'   power  or   promote  the   prosperit\'  of  the    I  nited 

States.       I'he  h'ue   policv  of  the  country  is  tersely  and 

forciiih-  e\|ire-s('(|  h\    that  \('teran  stafe-maii.  Andrew 

.Jack-on.  Ill  a  h  tier  to  PresidiMit    :\b)iiro(^:    '^  Concen- 

trat(>   oiir   popnlatiuii.  c(»iiline  our  frontier  to  proper 

hmit-,  until   our  coiintrv.  t<>  tho-^e  limits,  is  iiiled   with 

a  vieii-e  pttpulatioii.      It  is  the  denseiie^s  of  our  poi)U- 

laiion  that  'lives  streiiLilh  and  security  to  our  frontier." 

I  here     can    h.e    liltle    doubt    that    th(>    couiilry    in 

<|Mes1ioii  w  lil    Ih-  settled   at    no  distant  (la\  — probably 

bv  the  AuL'lo-S.ivou  race  —  and  \ve   ma\   liiul  ii  ex[)e- 

dient   lor  a   tint"    to   eviend  over  a    portion  of  these 

settlers  our   ju-oiection   tmd   our    laws;     but    he    nmst 

ha\c  a    greater  shan^  of  credulity  than  has   fallen   to 

mv    lot.  who   can    believe  that  such  |)opulatiou.  when 

It    shall    have    become   ahle    to    i!;()V('rn    and    protect 

Itself,    will    submit   to   be    governed    by  others,    and 


24 


look  to  the  shores  of  tlic  Atlantic — some  two  or 
three  thoiisiiiKi  iiiiles  th.-taiit  —  lor  tlicir  laws  and 
iTiiuiaiioiis.  The  IJocky  iMonntains,  and  the  dreary 
deserts  on  either  side,  lorni  a  natnral  harrier  between 
dillcrent  nations,  rather  liian  a  connectin*;  link  be- 
tween parts  ot"  the  same  nation  ;  and  I  care  not  how 
soon  llicv  inrni  the  boniulary  between  the  United 
States,  us  tin  ij  note  (in ,  and  an  in(le|)endent  nation, 
coniprisinii:  tiie  iriio'r  ol"  u  hat  is  now  called  the  '■  Ter- 
ritory ol  Oregon.'  Such  were  the  views  of  Mr. 
Jellerson.  and  whatever  some  may  think  of  him  as  a 
jmliilcidii.  lew  are  now  disj)osL'(l  to  deny  that  he  was  a 
sauacions  and  far-sighted  sunvsman.  \\  riling  to  Ivlr. 
Astor,  resj)eetnig  his  nndertaking,  he  says,  "  I  consid- 
ered as  a  great  public  ac(|nisition  the  connnencement 
of  a  settlement  on  thai  point  of  the  \\  eslern  coast  of 
America,  and  looked  forward  with  gratilication  to  the 
time  when  its  descendants  should  have  spread  them- 
selves through  the  whoh'  lenuth  of  that  coast,  covering 
it  with  Iree  and  inde|)endent  .Americans,  inicotUK  rial 
irii/t  us  hut  hi/  the  tirs  nf  hluod  (ind  inttrcsl,  and 
en|o\in!2  like  us  th(.'  rights  of  sell-government.'' 

I  will  add.  as  my  own  views,  that  rather  than  have 
new  States  formed  beyond  the  i^ocky  Al(juntains,  to 
be  added  to  our  j»resenl  liiion.  it  woukl  be  a  lesser 
evil,  so  far  ;is  that  Ijiion  is  concerned,  if  the  unoccu- 
jtied  portion  of  the  Oregon  'I'erritory  should  siidv  into 
Symmes's  Hole,  leaving  the  \vestern  base  of  those 
Mountains  and  the  borders  of  the  Pacihc  0.-:ean  one 
and  the  same.  I  bit  as  this  consummation  —  however 
devoutly  it  ma\  be  wished  —  can  hardly  be  expcjcted, 
1  deem  it  very  desirable  that  the  <|uestion  ot  boundary 


'j:> 


)  two  or 

iws    and 

le  (Iroiiry 

between 

link  l)e- 

not  how 

0  United 
it  nation, 
lie  "  Ter- 
?    of  Mr. 

him  as  a 

lie  ^vay  a 

no-  to  Ivlr. 

■  ]  consid- 

encenient 

1  eoa.>^t  ot 
ion  to  the 
jad  thein- 
,  covering 
uonnccud 
I  rest,  and 
It." 

than  have 

intains,  to 

he  a  lesser 

e  nnoccu- 

l  sink  into 

13  ot'  those 

)rx'an  one 

—  however 

e.\|)(!Cted, 

bonndary 


>li(iul(l    he  s))eedily   iidiusted.  and  that  the  limits  and 
th(>  rights  of  eneli  |)artv  ho  so  rl(?arly  estMblished  and 
dctiiicd  a<  to  prevent  all  daiiiier  ol   eollision  horeatter. 
Ill    this   opinion    I    doiiht    not    tliai    the   distinunished 
statesmon.  Messrs.  Packenham  and  Calhonn,  who  now 
have  rharirc  ol' the  neii(>eJatioiK  will  cordially  concnr ; 
and   it  seem-  lo  me  that  each  ])arty  will  attain  their 
object,    and    nislic(>   he  done  lo   holli.  by  adoptinii;  as 
the   boii!idar\    a  (■(»ii1iimati(.)ii   of  the    parallel    of    U)^ 
acro.<s  the  Kockv  .Ab)nntains,  to  tide-water,  say  to  the 
middle  ol'  the  ••(bill'  of  (ieorgia : ''    thence   by   the 
iiortlienimost  naviuabh.!  passage  (not  iHjrth  of  'll)^)  to 
the  Straits  of  .liiaii  de  i'nca,  anil  down  th<;  middle  of 
these    Siraits  to  the  I'acihc  Ocean  :  the  navigation  of 
the  (bill  ot"  (.eoiiria  and  the  .Straits  of  Jnan  de  Fuca 
to  be  ion'\('r  free  to  both  parties  —  all  the  islands  and 
other  ieri!tor\   Kini^-  South  and  East  of  this  line  to  be- 
long te.  the  I   lilted   States,  and  all  .North  and  West  to 
(ireat  Fjritaiii.      1)\  tins  arrangement  we  should  yield 
to  (Ireai  Ibitain  the  portion  of  (^iuadra  and  \'ancouv- 
erV  Island  that  lies  South  of  Latitud(^  49-,  which,  in 
a  territorial   point   of  vi(^w.  is  of  too  littk;  importance 
to  desc'rve  a  moment's  consideration  ;   and  both  j)arties 
would  secure,  for  a  considerable  exti'iit,  a  well-dehned 
natural   boiiudarv.  about  which   there  could  hereafter 
he  no  donhi  or  dispute.     Will  (ireat  Britain  accede  to 
this:      I  ihiiik  she  will.      I'p  to  tli(3  close  of  the  last 
neo-otiation.  in    \\\!1.  t!ie   free    iia\ii!ation  of  the   C'o- 
ImiiUia    \va<    declared    ro   be    indispensable   to    ( b'eat 
liritain.  b\  the  llntHli  (  ommissioners  ;  but  subsequent 
develoi)menis    will    probably    r<'iid(,'r    the    Dritish  less 
perlina«ioiis  ii|>oii  this  point.     The  '•  summary"   j)re- 
sented  by  the  Commissioners  in  loJ7,  shows  that  the 


2(; 


ColiimlMii  was  ihcii  siipp'  >c<l  t(t  he  tlK3  inostconvoii- 
iciil —  in  IJict,  tin-  (>iil\  — naviiiiiblc  cliiumrl  of  coin- 
iMiiiiic.'ilioii  Ix'twccH  tli('()c(Nm  and  i:i«».-t  of  tlir  nu- 
nicions  otalilislnncnis  of  the  Ihh  »n  Hay  (  oni[)any, 
Wrst  (>r  tlic  IJorkv  AloMMtains.  W  itliin  a  lew  years 
j»a>l.  however,  several  rncrs.  of  considerable  nianni- 
Inde,  Imve  lieni  explored  Ironi  the  inl(M'ior  to  llie 
se;is  nilo  wlucli  tli(!y  empty.  iNorth  ol"  Latitnde  il)-. 
'Vlicsc  ar(!  ••  I'ra/er's  l{i\i'r,"'  \viiieli  (lis(Mnl)oi;ii(!.s 
al)ont  that  i»arallel  —  the  riv(>r  called  hy  Harmon  tlu; 
••  iXachaotlatain.""  in  ahont  the  Latitnde;  oo^  —  "•  Simp- 
son's IJncr,"'  a  littl(>  iNorth  ol"  l.atitndo  .W'  —  and 
"  Stickenc  River."  in  ."Hi  Ml,  All  these  wonld  Ix; 
witlnn  the  Ornish  territory,  or  are  so  sitnated  that  tlio 
IJritisii.  hv  their  Convention  with  Unssia,  wonld  liave 
the  riuht  of  ji;ivii:atinu'  liiein  ;  and  thev  wonld  allbrd 
coiiveniont  commnnication  with  most  ol"  their  estah- 
lishmcMits  North  ol"  1!)  ;  and  it"  this  adjustment  should 
he  made  th(-y  wc^dd  retain  none  South  of  that  line. 
I  should  he  reluctani  to  cede  to  (Ireal  iiritaiu  the  free 
iiaviuialioii  of  llu^  (\)lumhia.  for  there  are  serious 
ohjeclions  to  iii\  in:i  to  an\  nation  the  unlimited  riiiht 
of  nsiiii:-  a  narrow  stream  where  it  tlows  wholly 
throuuh  the  territiiries  of  another.  Kor  obvious  rea- 
sons, tlu'  (  \erci.-e  ot"  such  a  riuhi  nm>t  eudauiier  the 
hnrmouy  and  [)eace  of  l!n'  parties;  and.  especiallv.  at 
such  a  remote'  pe/iin.  would  he  a  fruitful  cause  of 
jealou.-y.  and  \er\  iiis.elv  to  occasion  colli>iou.  Hut 
(ireat  I  Britain  will  not  relincjuish  the  riiilit  to  the  free 
naviiiatiou  and  u>e  of  the  Mraits  (_if  Juan  de  Fnca  if 
she  retauis  the  terruory  Nortii  ot"  49-.  The  use  of 
tlies(>  Mraus  would,  in  fact.  i)e  indi>peu>ahle  to  her, 
lor  ihrouuh  them  is  the  onlv  convenient  access  to  a 


27 


>st  roii\(Mi- 
'I  of  colli- 
er the   im- 

(    <»lllj)iUI\', 

r<'\v  years 
||<!  iiiai>iii- 
lor  to   fho 
tilde  V,)^. 
cmboniie.s 
innoii  iho 
— ''  Simp- 
^o^  —  a  Jul 
would    l)(; 
1  that  tlio 
niUl  Jiavc 
iild  aliord 
'ir  cstal)- 
nt  should 
that  lino. 
I  the  free 
'    .'^eri(ju,s 
ted  rii>ht 
^    wholly 
oils  rea- 
!i,iier  the 
L'ially.  at 
'aiise   of 

11.        l)Ut 

the  Ih^o 
l-iica  if 
u>e  of 
to  her, 

es.s  to  a 


eoiisiderahle  |)ortioii  ol  lliis  territory  The  Strait  of 
.lii;iii  de  I'licM  I-  ahoui  three  leaij,iies  wide  at  its 
eiilraiKc.  uitliiii  which  llie  width  iiiereases.  iNear  its 
head  ar(;  iiuiiieroiis  islands,  and  some  of  th(>  liiiest 
harhnrs  in  the  world.  ••Admiralty  Inlet"'  branches 
<il  lo  the  South,  and  runs  towards  the  main  stream  of 
the  Coluinhia  to  iIk;  Latitud*'  of  i-7^,  and  all  these 
islands,  luirhors  and  inlets  would  he  within  our  limits. 
'I'his  Strait,  with  all  its  branches,  beinu'  easy  of  access. 
safe,  and  JiaAiiiable  at  all  seasons  and  in  any  weather, 
A\hile  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  is  :it  all  times  dan- 
of^riius  to  ei!ler,  and  t()r  a  consi(l(>rabl(!  part  of  the 
Near  almost  inaccr'<sible.  I  cannot  but  thinlv  that  the 
Strait  will  ultunatrb  b(!  the  ureat  channel  throiiah 
which  will  pa.-s  iiio.-t  of  lla^  products  of  the  wliol(> 
region  drained  bv  th(^  ( 'olumbia  and  its  branches  — 
both  that  |»art  of  it  which  would  fall  to  us  in  the  pro- 
posed diMsioii.  and  a  considerable  ])ortion  of  that 
which  would  fall  to  (Ireat  liritain,  lym^  North  of  19-. 
\  erv  dilfer<'nt  and  coniiictiuii;  re{)resentations  have 
been  made  bv  dilferent  writers  in  regard  to  tlu^  jicn- 
eral  asjtect  ot"  the  whole  territory,  and  its  ada])tation 
to  auricultuial  [)Uipos(>s:  some  have  describcnl  it  as  a 
perfect  paradise,  while  by  others  it  has  been  re|)re- 
seined  as  wild  and  sterile.  Accortliiiu' to  my  observa- 
tion Ixith  have  exaii^eraleil.  Those  who  have  |)aiiite(l 
its  l)<aut\  \u  akuvinuf  colors  nrobablv  looked  at  it  in 
contra-t  ^vllh  the  drear\  n^iiions  thev  had  passed 
throuuh  Ml  renclun*;"  it,  while  others  may  not  have 
luiide  sufiicieiit  allowance  li)r  tin?  repulsive  appearance 
wliK'li  II  hiriie  portion  of  an  uncultivated  country,  in  a 
hiiiii  laiitude,  usiialK  j)resent>.  A  Aleinoir,  pre|)arcd 
by    i\lr.    \\  veth,  a  f(!W    years  since,  at  the  recjuest  of 


mm 


i 


I 

i 


i 


i ' 


!'i 


28 


a  committoc  of"  ( /oiiiitpss,  coiitiiins  fho  clonrpst  mtuI 
mo.-t  impMrtinI  representation  of  the  appearances  and 
caj)al»ilities  of  tlie  ronntn  that  I  have  met  with. 
Sonth  of  the  parallel  of  'i!>  ,  mar  the  horders  of  Ad- 
miralty Inlf't  and  I'nuct's  Sound,  nnd  in  the  valley  of 
the  \Vallaininetle.  or  Miilliioiiudi  IJivcr.  which  empties 
into  th(^  ("oinmhia,  and  upon  the  hanks  of  which  the 
principal  settlements  of  emigrants  from  the  United 
States  liave  l)e(Mi  made,  and  in  some  otluM*  places,  the 
appearance  of  the  country  is  attractive,  the  soil  oood, 
and  well  adapted  to  auricidtural  pnrj)oses  :  and  so  like- 
wise is  the  (Cistern  side  of  (^)ne('ii  Charlotte's  Islands, 
and  some  other  places  Xorlh  of  'll>\  lint  I  have 
neither  <('cn  nor  he;ird  of  hinds  in  anv  part  of  this  ter- 
ritory diat  arc  superior  to  the  nnllions  upon  millions 
of  nncultivated  acres  within  the  limits  of  the  Inited 
States,  on  this  side  tlic  liocky  .Mountains  :  and  I  doubt 
if  those  who  an^  dissatistied  with  the  state  of  things 
eastward  of  these  mountains,  will  find  their  con(htion 
much  improved  by  emiirration  to  the  ( )reoon  Territorv. 
'rhey  will  find  —  as  emigrants  to  a  new  and  unsettled 
country  have  too  often  found  —  that  •' 'Tis  distance 
lends  enchantment  to  the  view." 

The  climate,  however,  is  altogether  niildcM',  and  tiie 
winter  less  se\cre  than  in  correspon(lini>-  latitudes  on 
this  side  the  Continent,  and  more  iiearlv  resend)les  the 
climate  of  Kuro])e.  As  ])roof  of  its  imldness  I  may 
mention  that  1  have  passed  seven  winters  between  the 
latitudes  of  n]^  and  oT --,  ire(|uently  Ivinir  so  near  the 
shore  as  to  have  a  small  cable  fast  to  the  trees  upon 
it,  and  only  once  was  my  .-nip  surrounded  by  ice  suf- 
ficiently firm  to  bear  the  weight  of  a  man. 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to   oive  you  the   material 


jy 


■;inc(^  Mild 

net  with. 

rs  (»r    \(1- 

vallcy  of 

I  nnptirs 
\  liicli  flio 
('  IJnitrd 
JiC{?s.  the 
:oil  uiood, 

I I  so  likc- 
-  Islands, 
\.    I    liiive 

this  tor- 
I  niilhons 

0  I'nitod 

1  I  doubt 
)!"  thiiii^s 
'otiditiou 
V'rritory. 
Liiisottlod 

distance 

.  and  tlie 
itudes  on 
nbles  tlie 
-s  I  may 
veen  the 
near  the 
368  upon 
ice  sul- 

material 


I'ucts  iM  ri'lation  to  our  claim  to  icrritorv  West  of  tlie 
|{(»ck»  Mnuiitiiiiis.  and  t(»  the  [n-c<ciit  stale  ol  llic  dis- 
|iutc  with  (ircal  Uritain  in  rdalinn  to  it.  Tlirrc  is 
rvidcntiv  a  lamciilahle  iiiUoiMMcc  upon  the  suii|cct, 
Ixitji  amonii  th(»e  who  <'all  InudK  \ny  action  and  those 
\vho-(^  po-itioii  i:i\('s  tlx'iii  ilic  |)(iW('r  to  act  :  and  it 
.-('(■in-;  to  nic  thai  iiiaii\.  holh  in  and  out  ol  ( 'oiiltcss, 
who  arc  nio,-l  clamorous  tor  taking'  immcMliate  pos- 
session of  the  "wiioh!  'rci'ritor\  ol  Oregon,''  know 
liltlc  iranvtlmi'j  ;il»oiit  the  real  iiiei'it-  ol'  the  (|Ucstion. 
Tlierf!  are.  al  t!ie  present  time,  numerous  estahlish- 
meiits  of  llrilish   snhject-  —  all    in    the  >er\  ice  ot"  tli(^ 

Hudson  Uav  (  oinpain scattered  from  the  mouth  of 

the  liiKiu;!  j{i\(r.  in  Lat.  '|.P  .S(K,  northward  to  the 
llu-sian  border-.  Oyer  iIk'sc.  h\'  act  of  Parliament 
in  Inj!l.(irea1  I5ritain  extended  the  laws  (»f  Canada 
and  the  |nris(hcUon  of  her  (  Oiirts,  and  authorized  tlie 
ap[)ointment  of  the  nece.-sarv  otlic(  rs  lor  executintr 
these  laws  and  eidbrcinii;  this  jurisdiction.  IJut  this 
was  done  with  express  reservatif)n  of  all  the  rights 
secured  lo  tiie  (  iiited  States  bv  tin;  Convention  of 
llil;!.  .ind  no  atieinj)t  has  cv('r  Ixmmi  maiU;  by  l>ritish 
authorities  to  i!it(  rfere  with  American  citizens  in  tliat 
«|narter.  I  lie  \mericans  are  settled  in  the  immediate^ 
\icmitv  of  the  firitish  establishments;  in  fact  tlie 
pcopli^  oi'  both  mitioiis  are  in  a  manner  miniiied 
together.  The  number  of  American  setth^'s  is  on  the 
increase,  by  continual  innni^ratioji  from  \\u]  States. 
'I'hev  hold  th(.'  lands  upon  which  they  settle  only  by 
tlie  tenure  of  po-ses.-ion.  and  are  Ln)verned  only  by 
such  laws,  or  ren'ulation-.  as  ihe\  cl)(~>'»se  to  adopt.  If 
the  controversy  about  this  territory  is  t(^  remam  in 
abeyance,  it  ma\    be   neces-sary  for  Congress  to  pass 


1 


r 


i' 


Si 


Li 


'  15 


;!(> 


Iiius  lor  tlic  ifovornjiMMil  nf  AmcncMti  cilizcii-;  rcsidiiin 
Witliiii  It  ;  but  liow  such  l;i\\>  iirc  to  he  cxrcutrd  ciuuiot 
rciidilv  be  |)(I('('i\(mI,  :iu(i  what  i-^  to  be  lh(M'csult  of 
such  ;ni  nuoiiinlo.is  >tatc  of  lliliiiis  I  will  uot  vi  iiluni 
to  predict.  .\o  .--troULici"  prool'  uccd  be  adductMJ  of 
the  iijnoraucc.  or  sojuctbiuii'  Wdiv-c  that  has  jucvailc'd 
ui)on  this  subject  in  our  national  councils,  than  the 
Tact  that  since  I!!  I!!  repeated  attempts  hav(3  been 
made  in  ('oni;rcss  —  bills  reported  and  debated  —  for 
C!Stai)lisliinu  a  territorial  ifoveruinent.  and  exteiidiiin- 
the  laws  and  jurisdiction  ol'tlie  I  nited  States  over  the 
irlioh  '•  'IVrritory  ot"  Oregon. ""  Such  a  measure  would 
lia\('  been  a  i^ross  violation  of  cxistina'  treatv  sti|)ida- 
tions,  and  frauLiht  with  all  the  conse(|uence-'  of  ;i 
hostile  act  against  a  trii^iidlv  and  powcrt'ul  nation. 

'J'he  lir>t  day  ol  the  pr(>>eiit  Session  of  ( 'ouoress, 
Dr.  Dimcaii,  a  iiieiiiber  from  Ohio,  nave  notice  of 
his  int<'ntion  to  brina'  lu  :i  bill  lor  takinu'  immediate 
possession  of  th(;  whole  "Territory  of  Oregon."  He 
sul)s(>(|uently  introduced  a  bill  lor  this  j)ur|)os(\  whicli 
was  relerred  to  the  ( 'oinmittecMipon  the  Territories, 
and  by  them  amended  and  reported  to  the  House, 
wher(>  it  was  onh-red  to  be  printed.  This  bill  ju-o- 
vides  tor  tukinu'  |)ossess!')n  of  the  whole  reuion  W Cst 
of  the  iiocky  Moujitains,  from  Lat.  M-  to.Vt^  'l(K, 
and  extendini>-  over  it  our  laws  and  jurisdiction.  Can 
any  man  in  hi-'  ^ober  senses  believe  that  (ireat  IJritain 
will  stand  tamely  by  and  see  such  a  measure  carried 
out.-  She  \\i\<  rep(\itedly  chnmed  and  nuiintained 
rii>hts  in  this  territory  before  the  whole  civilized  world 
—  she  has  enjoyed  these  riuhts.  and  exercised  undis- 
turbed autiiority  within  the  disputed  limits,  nearly  half 
a  century.      Ilundreds  of  her  subjects  have  settled, 


I 


ii<  rcsidiiiii 
itcd  ciiimol 
lo  result  of 
loi  viiiliini 

l(l(lll(-(Hi    of 
S    )»l('Vilil(Ml 

i,   than  lli(! 

I»av(3   hccn 

latL'd  —  lor 

('Xtciuliiin' 

's  over  tlic 

sure  would 

ity  sti|)iila- 

iice-'   of   ;i 

latioii. 

( 'oiiuress, 

notice  of 

inniiediatc 


ion 


•)■> 


II 


c 


r)S(%  whieli 
'crritories, 
le  House, 
s  hill  j)ro- 
iiiou  W  est 

j.vt^  My, 

ion.  Can 
■at  IJritain 
re  carried 
iiaiutained 
I  zed  \vorld 
^'Cd  uudis- 
learly  half 
e  settled, 


and  arc  now   li\  uil;  there  under  her  laws.      Is  it  )»roha- 

hii IS    It    within   the   -cope   of   po-sihilities — that  ;i 

nation,  that  nuire  tiian  lirt\  \ear>  aiio  expended  niil- 
lioiis  (A  dollar-  in  |He|»ariii'i  to  redre;-  an  alltMlned 
w  roll.;  done  to  one  of  her  snhjects,  under  doiihtrni 
(•irciini-taiice-.  and  to  regain  a  sinule  spot,  said  to 
have  heeii  taken  I'idiii  that  suhject  at  \ootka.  within 
the  1erritor\  in  (|nesti()n  —  is  it  po^-ihle.  that  with  her 
pride  and  her  power  apparentlv  nndiminished,  sIk^  will 
now  permit  iIk  ir/m/r  territor\  to  he  taken  possession 
ot,  and  her  snhjeels  eonipelled  to  snhniil  to  foreiiru 
authority,  or  ho  lorrihly  expelled  from  their  homos, 
without  <'\en  a  siriiiiuile  :  There  is  not  tin;  shadow  of 
a,  donht  in  ni\  mind  that  .-nch  an  attiMiipt  —  made  and 
persisted  in  —  would  can^e  an  iniinediate  rupture,  and 
hriii^'  on  war  hetwceii  the  two  eoimtries  as  surely  as 
if  we  were  to  lake  |)ossessioii  of  tli(>  island  <»!  .lamaica, 
or  the  cil)  of  Montreal.  'There  are,  I  (kjiiht  not,  in 
some  paiis  of  the  Cnion.  political  aspirants  and  politi- 
cal dcmaLioLincs  —  men  of  desperate  fortunes  —  who 
l)cli(iv<'  that  an\  chatiire  woidd,  to  them,  he  for  the 
heltcr.  and  therefore  desire  to  provoki^  a  war  with 
(ireat  llritain,  rcidvless  of  coiise(|uences  to  the  country 
so  loiiif  as  their  individual  intcr(\~ts  are  ])roniote(I.  IJiit 
I  hope  that  the  miiuhei  ol">iich  is  small,  and  trust  that 
their  counsels  will  not  he  li>t(>ned  to.  This  contro- 
\crsv  ma\  easily  he  made  the  |)rete.\t  for  a  war  with 
(ireat  l)riiain.  if  war  is  desired  ;  hut  1  repeat  that  it  is 
eminently  one  to  he  s(^ttleil  hv  neuociation.  If  this 
cannot  he  done,  let  no  other  s1(«ps  be  taken  at  present, 
riio  {{ritish  have  now  a  decided  superiijrity  in  that 
(juarter.  hut  <'miiiratioii  is  constantly  changing  the  rel- 
ativ<'  situation  of  tlu^  parties  in  favor  of  the  United 
States ;   and  u  few  years  hence  she  will  he  better  able 


.>^ 


to  support  licr  pictcii-inu-  hv  loicc  tiiiiii  A\c  is  lit  tlic 
i)ros«Mit  time.  Hut  it  is  idle  to  -p(Nik  of  Inrco.  A 
rosDi't  to  It  can  lUMcr  he  iu'C('s.-ar\-.  Let  tli<'  Jihlo  iio- 
((•ociators.  who  iiow  lia\<'  this  luattrr  ,11  chariic,  exani- 
iii(>  it  with  rdrrciici^  .-olcl\  to  its  own  merits. — 
rciianHc-s  of  the  chiiuor-  oi  miioraiicc.  or  thr  siinnos- 
tioii>  of  scllishii('«^s.  —  and  let  tliciii  (h.-cuss  it,  with  tho 
muiilv  tVankiics^  and  coiicihatorN  sj)int  that  iiui(h'(l 
thcMhstiiiutiishcd  (hploiiiatists  wlio  s<'tlh'(l  the  iVortli- 
(.'cistcrn  houndarx.  and  it  can  scarccK  fail  to  ho  ad- 
justed to  the  sati>t'a('tion  of  a  vast  uiajority  ot'the  iiitol- 


lii)(>iit  jxMjplc  ol  hoth  natioii- 


r 


icrc  is  a  third  [)arl\   inlcrcstcd  in  this  UKitt(>r,  ol 


A\ 


honi    I    ha\('    not  spoken,    and    who  have    iu)t    l)eeji 


uientioned  or  e\('H   alhided  I0  111  the  discussions  au( 


neiiociations  that  ha\e  hceii  uoiii;:  on.  in  I'ehitioii  to 
this  t(M'rLtor\.  anioiiL!  lour  ci\ih/,ed  nations,  tor  more 
than  liltN  \ear>.  I  In;  claims  ol'  this  party  do  not 
dejX'iid  upon  (li>co\  ('r\ .  or  e.\|>loratiou.  or  continuity, 
])Ut  ro^  upon   actual.  iiiidi<lurh('d.  undisputed  poss(^ss- 


lOli 


IV  tiieni-et\cs  and  their  rather- Iron i  a  | 


)eno( 


I 


to  wliicii  the  hi>tor\  of  t!ii>  coniinent  does  not  reach. 
lUit  the>e  claiiuaiit-  are  powerless,  and  lia\('  neither 
tieets  nor  anuic>-  to  luaintaiii  their  rights:  and  "lis  not 
the  practice  <A  itnlr.i,!  ;'iid  ('Inistuni  nations  to  listen 
to  the  claim-,  or  respiM't  die  ri'jiit-.  of  savaii'es  aiitl 
heatlieiis  I  The  rights  (-1  tlie  Indians,  Ironi  oiu; 
e\tremit\  ol  thi- coutiiieiit  to  the  other.  ha\('  Immmi  dis- 
r<>i:ar(led.  ate  now  di-rei^arded.  and  w  ill.  I  Tear,  cou- 
tiiiiie  to  he  (li<reijardcd  until  the  dav  ol'  retribution 
comes,  w  hi'U  e(|ual  iu>ticewill  he  meted  out  to  the 
rhristian  destro\er  and  in-  heathen  \ictini  —  and  tliat 
will  he  a  wol'ul  dav  lor  the  white  man. 


10  is  at  the 

lorce.     A 

lo  al)l(^  110- 

mc,  o.xam- 

inorits.  — 

\\v  siii:<io.s- 

it,  with  the 

Kit    ii'iiidcd 

tlio  iNortli- 

tO    1)0  51(1- 

)t"tho  intol- 


iiiattor,  of 

not    h(>o!i 

ssioiis  and 

rohitioii  to 

.   Inr  more 

tv    do    not 

'oiuiuuitv, 

'd  posscss- 

n  a  j)oriod 

not  roach, 

vo  noithor 

lid  'tis  not 

<  to  hston 

a  Lies   ami 

Troiii    o!i(! 

hiMMi  i\\f^- 

loar,  coii- 

otrihntion 

lit    to   tlio 

-  and  that 


